KELPMBIACEJE. ^9 NELtTMBICM. 



h. TIIALICTROI'DES. L. Canlophyllum thalictroides. Mx. 



Smooth ; leaves h\teTnaie and triternate ; leaflets oval, the lower ones petioled 

 and lobed ; the terminal one 3-lobed. A handsome herbaceous plant, commen 

 in woods. Stem one or two feet high, dividing at the top into two branches, 

 one of which is a thrice conipountied leaf-stalk ; the other bears a twice com- 

 pounded leaf and a small racemose panicle of flowers. Leaves dark green, 

 resembling those of the Thalictrym, and still more those of the Columbine 

 .(Aquilegia.) May. Per. Fujjpoose Hoot. 



ORDER VII. CABOxMBACE.E. ne Watcr-Targct Trile. 



Cal. — Sepals 3 — I, cnlored inside. 



Cor. — Petals 3 — 1. alteniatc* with the sepals. 



Sla. — Hypogynous, either G or mure tliun 17; anth. innate. 



Ova. — '2 or more ; stig. simple. 



Fr. — Indehiseent, tijiped by the hardened style. 



^s. — Globular, pendulous. 



A small order of aquatic plants, ■(vith centrally noltate, floatinff leaves, and yellow or pur- 

 ■ple flowers., which are axillary and solitary. I'he two genera which alone compose this 

 order are both American, and arc timnd t'rom Cayenne, S. A. to N. Jersey. The Braseniii 

 ot'Torrey antl -Gray's Flora, [Hydropeltis of Michaux] is found still larther north. 



BRASFJNIA. 

 Sepals 3 — 4, colored within, persistent. Petals 3 — 4; 

 stamens IS — 36 ; ovaries 6 — 18 ; carpels oblong, ovate, 2, or 

 by abortion, 1-seeded. 



Eng. brassct signifies a helmet or target. Curious water-plants, with a leaf 

 like a shield. The stem, peduncles, and lower surface of the leaves, covered 

 ■with a gelatinous and viscid transparent substance. 



B. PELTA'ta. p. Hydropeltis purpurea. Mx. 



Leaves peltate, oval, entire ; ■peduncles solitary, 1-flowered. An aquatic 

 plant of curious structure. It inhabits u)t.iddy shores and pools usually in 

 company with the water lily (NymphsBa.) The leaves are elliptical, on lonor 

 fle.xible petioles, floating on the surf ice of the water, smooth and siiining above, 

 purplisli beneath. It is very exactly peltate, .tlie stalk being inserted in the cen- 

 tre. The whole plant e.xcept the U[)per surface of the leaves is covered with 

 a slimy mucilage. Flowers purple, on long, slender stalks. July. Per. 



WuLer Tarsei. 



ORDER IX. NELUMBIACEiE. The miumho Tribe. 



Ch/.— Sepals 4—5. 



Ojr. — Petals numerous, in many rows, arising- from without the disk. 

 Sla. — Numerous, in several rows ;_/?/. petaloid; anth. adnate. introrse. 



Oca. — Ntimerous, separate, -with a simple style and stiffina, half enclosed in hollows of the 

 Fr. — A nut, g-enerally one-seeded. [elevated, fleshy and excessively enlarged torus. 



>5y,«.^-Destitute of albumen, and ^vith a highly developed embryo. 



This order comprizes but the sui^le genus, Nelumbiura, one of tlie species inhabiting the 

 still waters of tropical regions, and the other, of the United Stales. The nuts are eatable, 

 and indeed all other parts of the plant. 



NELU'MBIUM. 

 The characters of the gengs the sa,nne as those of the order. 



.Called in Ceylon, JVeluvtbo, 



